From big hits to big lawsuits

December 21, 2008

In 1991, Queens native Lou Pearlman took the rather traditional New Yorker's route of moving to Florida, but not to retire. Pearlman settled in Orlando and told a business partner that he wanted to start a pop band.

"Producer seeks male singers that move well, between 16-19 years of age. Wanted for New Kids-type singing dance group," read a classified Pearlman took out in 1992 in the Orlando Sentinel.

The Backstreet Boys debuted at Orlando's SeaWorld on May 8, 1993. Pearlman spent $3 million to launch the quintet, which became a hit in Europe before catching on back home in 1997.

Reportedly miffed that the Boys wouldn't record a song he wrote, Pearlman recruited a new group. 'N Sync debuted at Disney's Pleasure Island on Oct. 22, 1995.

The Backstreet Boys sued Pearlman in 1998 for release from their contract and made their biggest hit album, 1999's Millennium, without him.

'N Sync and Pearlman sued one another in 1999 and split up after settling out of court. The next 'N Sync album, No Strings Attached, debuted in March 2000 and broke sales records previously held by the Backstreet Boys.